"Archive & Install" on Firewire Powerbook??

[sunset]

Our son, a graphic design student in college needs help from someone--definitely not me...     He had a problem with his Pismo [?], [Photoshop quitting when working on very large files, i.e., 250MB] and sent it back to Apple for a fix.  They reinstalled 9xx but didn't put Jaguar back on as he asked them to.  The 'senior technician', specializing in Powerbooks, told him to upgrade to 10.2.6 as soon as he got it back, which, BTW, was two days later--overnighted both ways... amazing!!  

I mentioned to him that the consensus of opinion of 'those in the know', on 'TS', recommended not going on to 10.2.6 but rather stopping at 10.2.5.  He had the same problem with PS quitting while working with the same file after getting it back from Apple.  So... now he thinks it might be a good idea to go back to 10.2.5 and needs to know if he can do it, as the title of this post indicates, without disturbing OS 9.2.2??  He really doesn't want to wipe out the drive and start over--the drive is 40 MB and not partitioned.

As an aside, he did increase the 'file size/cache size' [?] in the Prefs in PS from 50% to 75%, hoping that the larger file sizes that he has to work with for school don't crash the program.  Don't know what will solve the problem here but any suggestions will be greatly appreciated!!!   Laurel

[DaveF]

Sunset,
I've used the Pismo and Photoshop combination for several years in both OS 9 and OS X and currently use OS 10.2.6 with good success.  My original OS X was installed onto a single OS 9 partition.  Went to several partitions on a later HD upgrade, but the original single partition setup caused no problem during the time used.

PS can get mighty slow as file and history sizes increase, but I've never had PS actually quit.  Plenty of RAM and a large scratch disk are essential to PS performance on any Mac.  I only have experience with 100MB plus/minus end-use files, but I would imagine 250MB files would push or break the envelop on even a 500 MHz Pismo with max 1GB RAM.  

Early versions of PS suggested installed RAM be twice the size of the largest files, but later versions suggest installed RAM be 4 or 5 times the largest files - might be more than that since my last reading on RAM requirements.  I stopped being interested after installed RAM was max'ed on my PISMO, for if PS wants more it is out of luck.  I now pay better attention to scratch disk size and to assigned cache levels.  Have used the Edit>Purge command  (with great trepidation) a few times when PS slowed to such a crawl that I feared losing my work prior to being able to save it.  On a taxed Pismo, it's a good habit to save often.  FWIW, my available RAM is 915MB with 631MB (67%) assigned to PS, and I do not think my Pismo would like 250MB files. I love the Pismo, but it may be approaching its limits when faced with more than ordinary PS requirements.

My PS usage is limited to digital photography; I'm sure others more knowledgeable with LARGE files and with the general processor speed/G3 vs. G4 discussion will have better or more encouraging information for you.

Dave

[sunset]

Dave, thanks a lot for taking the time for such an in-depth reply.  What you said definitely makes sense regarding RAM vs. file size.   I wonder if I've lead you/me astray with the 'name' of the Powerbook.  When I went to the Apple specs to check them out on his PB, the max for RAM says 512MB.  He said his is the 400 MHz/FireWire enabled one so I thought it was the Pismo model--maybe not???    You said you have 915MB of RAM, is that with VM or am I completely confused??  What is the max of real RAM the Pismo will use?

I'm going to email him the link to this thread so he can read what you wrote.  Can you set the scratch disk in X?  I just realized today, using PS6 in OS9 that the scratch disk has to be set every time you start the program up again.  I thought that stayed set in the Prefs until you changed it--guess not?!

  again for all your suggestions and good information!!  

[DaveF]

From the description, your son's laptop is the 2000 Powerbook, code named Pismo.

Pismo (aka Firewire) models refer to the 400MHz and 500MHz G3 Powerbooks announced in 2000 that for the first time were equipped with two firewire ports.  It, like its predecessors, was housed in a black case. The 2001 Titanium powerbooks also had 400MHz and 500MHz processors and firewire ports, but their processors were G4's.

When the Pismo's were announced, 512KB RAM sticks did not exist for these laptops, so the intial specs listed 2X256KB=512KB as max RAM configuration.  Once 512KB sticks became available, the max installable RAM for Pismo's was increased to 1GB.  Believe that will remain the top RAM configuration.

MY Pismo is equipped with 1GB real RAM.  The OS system files and other apps that are opened during bootup use a small chunk of that 1GB of RAM.  In my case, this small chunk captured during bootup was 85MB, leaving 915MB real RAM avaiable.  

To assign memory to PS: Photoshop>Preferences>Memory & Image Cache.  My PS preferences are set to assign 67% or 631MB of real RAM for use as needed by PS.  If all the 631MB is not in use, I believe that OS X retains some control of the unused portion until such time PS requires it.

To assign scratch disk goto Photoshop>Preferences>Plugins & Scratch Disk.  There 4 scratch disks can be selected.  The top HD becomes the primary scratch disk.  In your son's case, he will only have one selection (40GB HD).  Many PS'ers have a separate HD partition or a separate HD attached that is solely used as a scratch disk.  

In OS X, the memory usage and scratch disk settings remain until changed.

Dave

[sunset]

Thanks again, Dave--glad to know that I was in the right 'ball park'.  It sounds, from your information, that he should upgrade his RAM.  Right now he has 576MB--the original 64 and another 512.  Am sure he'll be happy to know that the max has doubled.  [Guess who'll get the bill on the upgrade??     ]  He does have a 2nd 40G hd he can put in the CDRom bay that could be used for a for a scratch disk--I'll suggest that...

Sounds like there's only so much that can be done to improve PS performance--smaller files would definitely be a start.

I do appreciate your effort to clarify my confusion--   for all your help!!

[DaveF]

512KB stick for Pismo is at or a little less than $99 plus s/h at Coast to Coast Memory at

http://www.18004memory.com/category.asp?ca...=9&subcatid=910

There are numerous reputable memory dealers, Coast to Coast Memory was simply the first old shipping document I found.

There site is confusing in that it lists a top and a bottom memory stick for Pismo.  This would lead one to think the top and bottom modules are of different sizes like those that exist on the Lombard and prior models.  The Pismo, to the best of my memory, was the first Powerbook to use the same size memory module in the top and bottom memory slots.

Hopefully someone else can point you to a better deal for a 512K memory module for a Pismo.

[kelly]

OWC is always my first stop.

They have one for $80.

http://eshop.macsales.com/Catalog_Item.cfm...=OWC133SO512328

http://eshop.macsales.com/MyOWC/Upgrades.c...=88&type=Memory

[sunset]

love that little guy--->  Dave and Kelly--  

All of this information has been invaluable!   My son read the responses and was excited that he could add more memory to his Pismo as well as learning more about how Photoshop interacts with the OS/memory availability.  

I, too, have purchased most of my RAM at OWC, Kelly, mainly because there have been very few problems and when there were, an immediate exchange was offered.  I also appreciate all the information they have on all their products--much more than most.  Have written 'OWC Larry' regarding info on items and always receive a response.   *cool*  

It would be interesting to know whether the 'archive and install' feature works successfully with OSX, if anyone's had experience?

You guys are great--thanks for coming through for us...  Laurel